Latch



Nov. 19, 1957 G. R. REITER 2,813,737

LATCH Filed June'7, 195s Fleyl PIC-3.3

INVENTOR.

GEORGE R REITER HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent LATCH George R.Reiter, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application June 7, 1956, Serial No. 589,906

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-74) The present invention relates to an improvedlatch and more particularly to a latch of the type comprising a plungerand a spring adapted to maintain a door in a closed position.

Latches of the type with which the present invention is concerned arenormally used for latching doors which do not require a positive latch.Such latches are so designed that the door on which the latch is mountedis normally held in a closed position by reason of the fact that thelatch plunger is spring biased into engagement with a cooperating strikemounted on the door jamb. Since the spring provides the only latchingforce, the door may be opened readily merely by applying an openingforce suflicient to cause the latch plunger to slide upwardly over thestrike against the biasing action of the spring. In order to adjust theposition of the plunger relative to the strike and thereby compensatefor variations in the distances between the door edge and the jamb indifferent installations, previous known latches of this type haveincluded, in addition to the spring means for biasing the plunger intoengagement with the strike, separate means for adjusting the position ofthe plunger within the latch housing.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple lowcost latch including a latch plunger and a spring for normally holdingthe plunger in operative position, the spring and the plunger being soconstructed and arranged within the latch housing that the spring alsoprovides means for adjustment of the latch plunger relative to acooperating strike.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch includingadjustable spring means for anchoring or fastening the latch plunger inoperative position within the latch housing.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize theinvention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexedto and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention, there is provideda latch including a housing and a latch plunger slidably disposed in thehousing. For biasing the plunger into latching engagement with acooperating strike and also for the purpose of providing means foradjusting the position of the plunger relative to the strike there isprovided a spring having one end connected or anchored to the plungerand the other end threadably engaging an internally threaded retainermeans within the housing. By rotating the spring relative to thethreaded retainer, the relative longitudinal position of the plunger canbe varied to obtain the desired adjustment thereof with regards to thestrike.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view partially in section of arefrigerator including a freezer door incorporating a 2,813,737 PatentedNov. 19, 1957 Referring now to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1

a standard type of refrigerator comprising an outer cabinet 1 includinga fresh food storage compartment 2 and a freezer compartment 3 for thestorage of frozen foods. An inner door 4 is provided for closing theaccess opening to the freezer compartment and this door is pivotal]supported at one side by hinges (not shown).

In order to latch the freezer door 4 in closing relationship with theaccess opening of freezer compartment 3, there is provided at the otherside of the door a simple and low cost spring-biased latch which in theillustrated modification comprises a portion molded as an integral partof the inner wall 5 of the door 4. It is of course to be understood thatthe invention is not restricted to the particular modification shownsince the entire latch can be made as a separate item and suitablysecured to a door such as the door 4 and furthermore thatthe latch ofthe present invention can be employed not only in connection withrefrigerator doors but also with any type of door which does not requirea positive latch. For those reasons the latch of the present inventionwill be described with specific reference to its essential operatingcomponents and without any particular reference to the specific mannerin which it is mounted on a door.

The latch of the present invention essentially comprises a housing 6, aplunger 7 and a spring 8. One end of the spring 8 is suitably anchoredto one of these members and the other end threadably engages the other.In the modification shown, one end of the spring is fastened to theplunger while the other end threadably engages internally threadedretainer 9 which may either be in the form of a portion of the latchhousing or a member suitably secured thereto.

In the modification shown, the forward end of the spring threadablyengages a threaded portion on the plunger shaft 10 adjacent the head 11.In order to prevent the spring from rotating relative to the plungerduring adjustment thereof, the extreme tip or end of the spring isadapted to snap into a groove 12 provided in the base portion of theplunger head 11 so that the spring is anchored and prevented fromrotating relative to the plunger. To guide the plunger duringlongitudinal movement within the housing, the opposite end 13 of theshaft extends through or into the retainer 9.

The end of the spring which is threadably received in the internalthreaded retainer portion 9 surrounding shaft end 13 provides means forthe longitudinal adjustment of the plunger within the housing 6 in orderthat the plunger may be adjusted so that the head 11 is in properlatching position with respect to a strike 14 suitably mounted on thedoor jamb 15 which in the present modification is a portion of the innerliner of the cabinet 1.

In order to prevent undesired rotation of the plunger within the housingand to maintain the plunger head 11 in proper latching position relativeto the strike 14 during normal operation of the latch, the opening 16 inthe front face of the housing through which the plunger head extends ispreferably of a rectangular or other non-circular shape and the plungerof a similar shape so that when the plunger head is in its normalposition extending through the opening 16, the plunger can not be turnedor rotated.

From the above description it will be seen that the spring 8 not onlyserves to fasten the plunger within the housing 6 but also provides, bycompression, the biasing force necessary to hold the plunger head 11 inlatching relationship with the strike 14'When the door is in its closedposition as shown in Fig. 2. Disengagement of the plunger head 11 fromthe strike 14 and opening of the door is accomplished-merely by applyingsu'ificient opening force to the door handle .17 to cause thehead'Il toslide upwardly over the strike 14 againstthe biasing action of thespring '8.

By the above-identified construction, the springB' not only'provides thedesired latching force and the means for Positioning the plunger withinthe housing 6 but it also provides means for adjusting the position ofthe plunger, or more specifically the plunger head 11, relative to thestrike 14in order to compensatefor any variations in the distance"between'th'e jarnb 1'5 and the door 4.

The manner in which the plunger may be adjusted is illustrated in Fig.3. By grasping the head 11 and pullingthe head freefrom the face opening16, the plunger and the spring 8 anchored thereto can then be rotatedrelative to the housing "6 in such a manner that'the spring is threaded'a greater or lesser distance into the retaining portion 9. In this waythe 'norrnalposition of the plunger within the housing and hencerelative to the cooperating strike 14'is changed. "In other words, whenthe head 11 is drawn forwardly against the action of the spring 8 to aposition where it is entirely clear of the opening 16 the springanchored to the'plunger maybe turned relative to the retainer portion 9so that after the plunger head is released and allowed to return to aposition within the opening 16, the length of spring between the plungerhead and retainer will have been changed and the position of the plungerhead 11 will have been varied relative to the strike 14.

Fromthe above description it will be seen that there hasbeen provided asimple and low cost latch essentially consisting of only a housing orequivalent means for mounting the latch structure on a door, a plungerand a spring which provides the'sole'm'eansfor holding or sup portingthe plunger in proper operative position within the housing, biasing theplunger into engagement with a strike and adjusting the plunger relativeto a cooperating strike. It will also be understood that while there hasbeen shown and descrihedtauspecific embodiment of the invention, theinvention'is not limited to the particular form shown anddescribeilbandait is intended by the appended claims to cover allmodifications .within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnite'dStat'es i 1. A latch comprisinga housingincluding a face havingan opening therein and' an internally threaded retainer spaced from saidface, a plunger including a head slidably and non-rotatably received insaid opening and a shaft extending into saidtretainer, la tcoillspring,one end of:said spring beinganc'hored to said plunger adjacent the headthereof and the otherend disposed between said retainer and said shaftand threadab'ly engaging said retainer.

2. A latchcomprisinga housing including aiaceihaving an opening thereinand'an internally threaded retainer spaced from .said' 'face,,la plungerincluding .a head .slidably and non-rotatalily receiued in said opening,and a shaft extending into said retainer, and means vfor adjustablyfastening said plunger in said .housinglconsisting of a coil spring, oneend-of which is anchoredto saidplunger adjacent the head thereof and theother end of which threada'bly engages said retainer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

